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Toon must show ambition to land Cabaye

Date published: Friday 3rd July 2015 11:45

Palace are reported to have made a £9million offer to sign Cabaye from Paris Saint-Germain and are likely to face competition from West Ham, but Newcastle are also said to have been sounded out over the midfielder’s availability.

Cabaye made close to 100 appearances in a two-and-a-half-year spell at St James’ Park before joining PSG in January, and Bernard believes his French compatriot would jump at the chance of a return to Tyneside were it not for there slow start in the transfer window.

He told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle: “Yohan Cabaye would come back if the team was right and we had the ambition to win things and challenge rather than the business ambition we have at the moment. I think he would come back to Newcastle United, without a shadow of a doubt.

“So far though he would probably look at it and not be quite so sure. I can guarantee he won’t be the first signing, he would want to see what’s coming. He needs to make sure that he goes to the right club, not one that is losing every week, because he wants to be involved for France at Euro 2016.”

Palace are also yet to get their summer transfer business under way, but Bernard can understand why Cabaye might consider a move to Selhurst Park.

“It’s a difficult decision for him but I’m not that surprised that Crystal Palace are looking at him and are making a play,” Bernard added.

“Palace are in a similar position to Newcastle when Alan Pardew was the manager here. They have a decent squad and I think they are trying to go to the next level. It actually looks like a better squad than most and I think they will be competing in the top 1-.

“For him it’s a difficult decision now but am I surprised he’s looking to come back to England? Not at all.

“He probably left for financial reasons but he hasn’t played enough for Paris Saint Germain and now he’s on the bench for France, which is not where he wants to be.”